2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Reed had in-person encounters with this giant deer in 2019 and 2020. The sun came up and we finally saw a deer around 7:00 a.m. Three does passed through, and then I heard Dad say, Big buck, big buck.. On Sunday, January 24, he eased into the property. Later that night, Lacefield recovered the deerhis biggest ever. Taylor knew it to be a great staging area before deer head out to feed in the soybeans. Put in his scenario, we would have done the same thing. But almost immediately, skeptical hunters started asking what everyone was thinking: Was it a high fence deer?. The rack is still in the drying phase before it can be officially scored B&C. This year, the rifle will be chambered in 7mm PRC, the hot new load that was a hit at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. He shot the deer on a Saturday morning as it moved from water to a bedding area, Whitt said. 10 Amazing Photos of a Buck Shedding Velvet, How to Tag a Velvet Whitetail Buck (and the Best States to Make It Happen). Few states offer a good shot at a velvet buck, but Kentucky is one of them. It stretched the tape to 179 inches. One of the things Kentucky deer hunters look forward to is hunting velvet bucks. Id never seen anything like him before. "This deer has shown me that all the time and dedication that I put into preparing for this hunt was beyond worth it in the end. We finally found the other side in mid-March. He spotted this giant in person for the first time in 2019, but didnt close the gap. "It was emotional because this was [my girlfriend's] uncle's old stand. As of March 1, 289 deer and three elk had been killed from the . seizing and destroying hunter-killed deer brought in . I took my backpack off, got a drink of Coke, and just settled in. Hundreds of deer have been killed to slow a contagious and incurable disease in Idaho, wildlife officials said. Big, heavy, long-beamed bucks are the stuff of dreams, but Logan Beach experienced the real thing on opening day this year. Anything raised for the purpose of shooting is not eligible by our standards, and this buck would fall under that category. East ky. Strutter said: This buck was killed yesterday in Richmond in front of Krogers. All thanks to the good Lord above.". There was a wild sapling pushed right up against the trees on the weed line. They loaded it up on a small ATV and brought it home. He just disappeared, Settle says. "It became a yearly tradition for me," he said. Dad ran to me and we hugged and thanked God again for an unforgettable hunt that we got to experience together. Legendary Whitetails has it on display. I couldnt tell if he was on my side of the property line or the neighbors. (Photo by Chase Geary) For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The rifle has five caliber offerings, two barrel choices and three different riser stocks. I looked around a little bit and something caught my eye. But he never got the chance. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. Four of the county's 11 biggest deer were shot during the past five seasons. Harvest Results by Region. But once in the area, he found the buck within minutes. Joe Lacefield accomplished both simultaneously. So, now that you have a brief history of LBL, here is the story of the buck we named Sasquatch.. Jacob, his brother and father pose proudly with Sasquatch. The new Frontier, available in 8x42 and 10x42, has all the range-finding capabilities a hunter needs. Weather Service confirms tornado with two tracks in Jackson County, Huntsville Utilities employee hurt while repairing power lines, Limestone Co. Sheriffs Office searching for car thief, One person hospitalized Saturday in Huntsville crash, One injured in Huntsville shooting Friday evening. The Model 336 is expected to be launched soon; the Model 1894 should launch this spring. My dad had been marking every scrape, rub, trail, shed and trail camera picture using the Hunt Stand app, so he transferred all that info to the topo map to hopefully figure this deer out. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. He quickly recognized the big typical, and watched as it walked all the way to within 15 yards. Hell of a buck. "You must take the time to do all the preseason scouting," Reed said. But the average age of deer, especially bucks, depends a lot on the choices hunters make. Marlin is back in the game with the re-introduction of the classic 336 and 1894 lever-action hunting rifles. Right after he got into the blind, he saw something that stirred [his] curiosity., I was getting situated, he says. It was broadside and slightly quartering away from Settle. Giant bucks on opening day were taken by Kentucky bowhunters Jamison Standard and Casey Reed. Winchester's new Big Bore ammo, available in 10 mm, .44 Mag., .357 Mag., and .45 Colt, is specifically designed for big bears in bear country. I looked up at Dad to see what direction he was pointing, but I couldnt see anything with my eyes or with the scope. On our way back to the truck one day, we came across a scrape at the bottom of a really steep drainage. It was also the opening of dove season, and after climbing into the stand, he heard gunshots everywhere. The afternoon before the opener, he glassed a large soybean field and spotted the giant, plus a 150-inch buck and others, as they walked out into the open. Lacefield slowly drew back. That is one of the best-looking racks I've seen from last season, beautiful color and all those stickers! This page is designed to showcase bucks from the Bluegrass State. Josh Honeycutt After that season, he decided to focus all his energy on hunting that deer. During the summer of 2019 we started getting pictures of him, but we never received pictures in the daylight. Land Between the Lakes (LBL) is a 170,000-acre peninsula between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with 110,000 of those acres being in Kentucky. Jason Kline has spent much of his life chasing whitetail deer. Nice to see other people from Richmond. Settle says the. Deciding on a particular area, he settled into the stand on a 50-acre soybean field surrounded by woods, with a food plot located between the crops and timber. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. "I had never had a deer quite this size before on the farm.". Here are a handful of the best velvet bucks to come out of Kentuckys 2021 bowseason. There were several other hunters there, and all were in disbelief at the sight and story of this deer. All rights reserved. As proof of the effort's success, in 2020 two new records were set with the largest typical and non-typical archery bucks ever taken . I debated. You are using an out of date browser. We put out cameras that summer covering the best spots over a 1000-acre area. "I could tell he would not get as close as the other buck, but would be crossing my shooting area, so I referenced my orange survey tape.". "I ventured away from deer hunting because of my passion for waterfowl hunting, but there's nothing like harvesting a buck with a bow. Deer. JavaScript is disabled. Among the accomplishments includes the recently concluded Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt initiative, which in 10 years conserved or enhanced 5.3 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, recruited 1.5 million new or lapsed hunters, and opened new access to 750,000 acres for hunting and recreation. Joe Lacefield's velvet monster green-scored 179 inches. This winter, he found the bucks rack, By That isnt the area of Ohio thats best known for big deerthe southern third of the state is more often recognized as monster buck countrybut dont tell that to Kline who recently picked up Hermans 233 7/8-inch rack. "My dad raised me to love deer and turkey hunting," Reed said. Copyright 2019 WAFF. I dropped the phone and steadied my bow. Land Between the Lakes National Recreation area is about 20 minutes from our hometown of Benton, Kentucky. After our interview with Settle, we were confident that his story was true. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. His treestand was positioned on the ridge, with bedding cover at the end of the point. Kline hoped for the best, but expected the worst. Score: 155 inches. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. He hadnt heard of any other hunters tagging him, and news of such a giant buck would certainly spread quickly. This man pleaded guilty to hunting without permission and hunting by aid of bait, which are both class C misdemeanors. However, that isnt always the case. Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. This man pleaded guilty to hunting without permission and hunting by aid of bait, which are both class C misdemeanors. Im sad that he died and wasnt killed by someone, but I am glad to have him., Read Next: An Elevated Shed Hunting Experience. In this edition of "From The Stand," Pat Hogan explains the importance of being aware of proper clearance when using your bow or crossbow out in the field. The buck had a huge body, and we guessed him to be 4 or 5 years old. With lessons learned from past seasons, Beach was excited when a familiar buck started showing up on his trail camera this summer. Still, he and others regularly glassed the giant out in the open on the big farm that wouldnt allow hunting . That's crazy! Harvest Results by Weapon. "My heart started pounding," Reed said. I have two children and I hope that in the future they will want to go hunting with me and be as passionate about it as I am. It turned out the deer was on a steady evening routine.". We then went to the entrance of LBL to get a picture with the Land Between the Lakes sign and Sasquatch. Mel's Perfect 66 Illinois deer scored 204 inches. According to Justin Spring, director of big game records for Boone and Crockett, the answer is simple. Score: 211 inches (unofficial gross score), "This was the first year I had access to this farm," he said. Sage Marshall joined Field & Stream as an editorial intern in 2018, when he worked at the publications former office in Manhattan. Kline had years of trail camera photos, and a decent idea of how to kill the buck. Josh Honeycutt He had never seen an animal quite like this one beforeand neither had the rest of the world. Buy License; Hunt; Wildlife; Fish; Boat; Education; Law . Kentucky Big Bucks. He did some landscaping for the woman who lived on the plot. But the left side boasted an Social media is abuzz this morning as deer hunters fawn over what might be the new world record whitetail. Around 6:15 p.m., a small, 6-point buck walk through behind them. Published Jan 27, 2021 8:50 PM EST. |
I figured he took off. Sasquatch continued to pass by our trail cameras until he lost his velvet, and then he disappeared. With shaky hands, Standard called his father and asked for help recovering the buck. Among the accomplishments includes the recently concluded Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt initiative, which in 10 years conserved or enhanced 5.3 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, recruited 1.5 million new or lapsed hunters, and opened new access to 750,000 acres for hunting and recreation. But Settle says he felt his presence this September. No one would believe me anyway. I felt the dread of thinking its never going to work out again. How many deer were killed in Kentucky 2019? Settle, 41, grew up in the Bluegrass State and is a long-time local of Henderson County. Kentucky hunter Daniel Deckard didnt expect to start his deer season with an injury, but thats exactly what happened. They waited a few hours before blood trailing and didn't find any blood or the arrow within the first 15 minutes of the search. Only two racks have ever scored higher, and those were both from deer that were found dead in non-hunting situations. Knowing that Kline had actively hunted this deer for years, the landowner was nice enough to let him keep the rack. I owe a lot of this to him., Read Next: Utah Hunter Arrows Insane Opening Day Mule Deer. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. The next morning Dad called me broken-hearted; he found the deer, but it wasnt Sasquatch. At that point, he could tell it was a good deer. The new Frontier, available in 8x42 and 10x42, has all the range-finding capabilities a hunter needs. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. He would make a great first buck with my bow.". Imagine hunting a buck for four years without ever seeing him in person. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. He especially didnt expect it to happen during his first year on a new farm. In October, the stud disappeared. Speaking of city deer is that fort Mitchell deer still kickin. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. |
That includes the Missouri Monarch and the Hole in the Horn Buck. So what do the record keepers do about a deer like this? Warren County, Mississippi Turns out the area around Vicksburg, Mississippi, is more than just an attraction for Civil War history buffs. To have a deer that big in gun range, and not be able to shoot? Browning's Rafę Nielsen shares details on the new X-Bolt Pro LR McMillan hunting rifle with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. It isnt every day you tag a giant 179-inch deer, and its even rarer to do so with traditional archery equipment. The problem? I've filmed a lot of deer hunts. We continued looking for the other side but never found it. Kline hunts Sandusky County, Ohio, which is located in the northwestern region of the state. Aug 20, 2007. I drive down the bypass all the time and me and my cousin once counted 10 in that grew up ditch at one time. Features quick-change barrel system. It was showing up regularly and seemed very huntable. LaRue's Ethan Alexander talks about the Siete's features with Game & Fish's Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. He had 15 scorable points, and he would still score over 200 inches. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. But almost immediately, skeptical hunters started asking what everyone was thinking: "Was it a high fence deer?" According to Keating, the 50-point buck was not killed inside of a high fence. We began looking for sheds daily again, grid searching the 3000-plus acres. He asked where I wanted to hunt, and I told him the same place as yesterday, because I had a good feeling about that spot. The timber dropped off into a drainage about 60 yards away. Then, it happened. "When a deer of this magnitude is killed, especially when I immediately have . I have a video of it after it was hit and it looks to be moving good but there's other pics of it dead but the pics still are blurry. This fall, Lacefield knew hed have to target and tag the buck quicklyhe was running out of chances. Enter the 2019 season. Story is that someone cut it;s head off and left before the F&W guys arrived. But, its also possible that the old buck succumbed to the stresses of the rut, possibly getting wounded by another buck and going down to infection or coyotes or both. Kline and other hunters hoped that the 2020 season would be the year. Kentucky produces some fine bucks year after year. Subscriber Services. All the congrats to the hunter on taking that buck, but from our record book standpoint, its not an eligible deer, Spring said in an interview with MeatEater. Some were saying 230 or 240 pts. Geo resource failed to load. It had a 20-inch inside spread with 24-inch main beams and gross-scored 170. Nathan Taylor started getting trail camera photos of a nice typical in 2019. The NWTF is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It was a wise decision, because soon he noticed deer started moving. solo hunt on his property, By I felt like my dad was with me like an angel on my shoulder, he says. He hung around on the side near camp catalpa last year. We told them to grab all his sheds off the mantle and meet us in LBL to drag him out. Kline hunts Sandusky County, Ohio, which is located in the northwestern region of the state. I used that to stay in the bucks blind spot. Eric Lundgren of Ruger, which now owns Marlin, highlights the features of both rifles with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. We ended the season with very few pictures, still none in daylight, and no sight of him while hunting. As Herman got older, he turned into a bona fide giant. Ken Vitale with Buck Knives chats with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller about two new hunting knives for 2023the purpose-built Alpha and PakLite series. Andy Beshear told . We are still blown away that we killed Sasquatch. My dad, Luke (my brother) and I enjoy hunting public land all over the country. CNN . Moments later, Clark squeezed the trigger on his 7mm Magnum rifle, and the biggest buck taken in North Carolina during the 2021-22 season was on the ground. Key features include muzzle velocities of 2,215-2,400 fps. After giving the deer plenty of time, the Arkenaus took up the blood trail, and found the buck. This page has. Saskatchewan Hunter Finds Target Sheds After Looking for Multiple Days, Iowa Bowhunter Goes Stealth Mode with a Tree Saddle to Bag 194-inch Non-typical, Nebraska Shed Hunter's Wife and Dog Find 6x9 Set One Year After Learning About the Buck, Dr. Kirkpatrick says he rarely hunts in September, though he does when the weather feels like October. He even had surgery on his wrist. Moore got there about 5:45 p.m. in knee-high boots, basketball shorts and a camo top. Key features include muzzle velocities of 2,215-2,400 fps. In the video above, Leopold's Shawn Skipper highlights the features of the exciting new optics with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. June 28th, 2013 | Big Deer Stories, BigDeer | 2 Comments Dustin Finley tells me his dad, Larry, killed this deer in Pendleton Co, KY on 11-11-12; they measured him at 226 7/8. In rare cases, wild whitetails can live for 20 years or more. "He never knew I was anywhere around. Six weeks before the opener, he fell from a 12-foot ladder stand, and broke or fractured his wrists, ribs, and ankles. DEC Announces 2020-21 Deer Harvest Estimates Hunters in New York Harvested More than 253,000 Deer in 2020-21 . A cold front passed through, and Taylor expected deer to be on their feet. It got real intense from 50 to 12 yards, he says. The 25-point deer may be impressive, however the way it was killed, is not. We had kept Sasquatch a secret from almost everyone; even our closest friends had no idea we were hunting this buck. Before daylight, Standard slowly eased along a low-impact entry route and slipped into his treestand undetected. When the buck walked through an opening, and the younger Deckard shotand missed. He remembers it as a bittersweet moment: Hed finally tagged the buck, but now the hunt was over. Though Settle didnt post the buck on social media, he immediately sent the photos of his trophy to his stepdad. It takes an equal mixture of intelligence and luck for a buck to reach that age, especially on public land. Buckmasters Whitetail Trophy Records (BTR) scorer Hunter Schmittou measured the beast of a buck and gave Huffman the final tally. Occasionally, the buck traveled through the 7-acre property. Upon walking up on the deer, Standard raised the buck's head from the soybeans and immediately realized how big it was. Guner Womack killed one of the most perfectly symmetrical whitetails. If we dont hear about it from the public, then we dont know that theres a case to be made, Gray explained. What is the biggest deer killed in Kentucky? A week later we went back to check the cameras and there he was: Sasquatch in daylight. "When I reached for my bow, the deer jolted about 35 to 40 yards into the bean field and stopped on a dime. But now that I actually have him at home, its crazy. Clark's huge buck carried 23. I wasnt really getting many pictures of him, though, and my only good chance to kill this deer was during the rut, Kline says. I know this buck being harvested out of one of his stands would have made his day. We continued to run cameras to prepare for the quota hunt. "The farm hasn't been bowhunted for five-plus years. While Deckard had hoped his father would be the one to kill the big velvet buck, they were both just glad a Deckard had tagged him. LIMESTONE COUNTY, AL (WAFF) - In November, a Limestone County man illegally killed a 25-point deer on private property. The whole crew was there to celebrate their collective accomplishment, and one that was years in the making. I knew that if I would get the opportunity, I didnt want to be all out of breath and shaky., He stopped for a longer break around 55 yards from the buck. KENTON CO., Ky. (FOX19) - An illegal killing of a trophy deer in early November has led to a hunter's arrest for wildlife-related charges and drug charges. Last year, the buck was 60 yards away, but wouldn't come any closer. In the above video, NWTF's Jason Burckhalter talks about the group's accomplishments and future plans with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. I never told a soul about him. Kansas bowhunter Brian Butcher couldnt believe his eyes when a monster whitetail snuck into sight in the eastern part of the state on October 10, 2019. I got a phone call that evening from Dad telling me he had just shot Sasquatch! If he had hadnt broken a couple kickers and tines, he would have gone over 200. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Subscriber Services. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. It was hard. Each year the buck packed on more antler growth, but Lacefield couldnt get within range for a shot. A food plot and lots of edge habitat stretched out in front of them. Dustin Finley tells me his dad, Larry, killed this deer in Pendleton Co, KY on 11-11-12; they measured him at 226 7/8. Josh Carter killed this massive non-typical buck in Logan County on Halloween 2021. Dustin Huff found one, hitting a record-setting buck with his crossbow. (High fence deer in Kentucky do not have to be checked in.) From seeing him to when I shot him it was a three-minute thrill ride, Huff told MeatEater. But nothing prepared Settle for the buck he started getting trail cam pictures of in July 2020 at one of his mineral plots. The bulk of Hermans core area was located on a large tract of land owned by a farmer who doesnt allow hunting. He decided crossbowhunting was the only option to hunt this giant deer this fall. Ever since we started hunting Sasquatch, my dad would say, If we ever kill him, we are getting a picture in front of that sign.. Eventually, the music stopped and the shotgun blasts faded. It was kind of dumb for a deer this big, but people would see him every day, either morning or evening.. Why don't you come out and sit the rest of the hunt with me?". Back before the construction went full bore that is. Figuring the deer was around 8 years old in the fall of 2020, Kline had been hunting Herman since he was 4 or 5. We have big deer here in north Alabama, that is a big deer anywhere in the country, Lindsey said. He had never seen the buck before that day. But the buck took a full step to the right. The rifle has five caliber offerings, two barrel choices and three different riser stocks. Spin to Win: Panfish Secrets for Catching Limits on Spinners, Make Crawfish Part of Perfect Summertime Meal, DIY: Earthworms Can't Hide When 'Grunters' Are Hunting, How to Add Casting Distance to Reach Bigger Fish, 7 Things to Ponder Before Buying a Fishing Kayak, Backyard Ready: Grilling the Perfect Steak, Tackle Test 2022: Top Bass Rods & Reels Reviewed, Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection, Classic Marlin: 336 and 1894 Lever-Action Hunting Rifles, NWTF's Passion for Wild Turkey Conservation Still Burns After 50 Years, First Look: Leupold's BX-4 Range HD Rangefinding Binos, Browning's Max Point, Silver Series Rifle Ammunition, New Hunting Ammo from Remington: 360 Buckhammer, New from Browning: X-Bolt Pro LR McMillan, Hornady's Hot New 7mm PRC Cartridge: SHOT 2023, Hawke Optics' Frontier LRF Laser Range Finding Binoculars, New from LaRue Tactical: Siete Chassis Rifle. "This involves stand location, cellular trail cameras, making sure your hunting clothes are as scent-free as possible, not contaminating the area around your stand and, most importantly, always hunting the wind.". When the wind is blowing toward his home, he knows that its a good time to hunt from the blindlike it was on Saturday, September 11, 2021, when Settle decided to go hunting around 2:30 p.m. He had a few stands throughout the farm. CWP collects hunters' voluntary harvest reports, and estimated 84,000 hunters killed 38,000 deer. He decided it was worth checking out and that he still had plenty of time for a stalk. The buck ran a short distance and tipped over. (Photo by Chase Geary). | Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. "Deer hunting means the world to me. This year, while Saturday's number of 20,263 was lower, hunters made up for that on Sunday with 12,126 deer harvested, for a total of 32,389.